While net breeders can keep fry from being eaten, I'm not so sure the babies totally thrive in such an environment. I have had the opportunity to observe a molly fry and some swordtail fry. The molly is the last from an ill-fated molly who died after giving birth, I think prematurely. There were three swordtail fry in my other tank. Two i fished out of the filter and put in the net, the other was loose in the tank and I could not get it without a major disruption, so I let it alone. Fast forward about a week and a half. The swordtail fry loose in the tank is doing much better than the two in the net. This morning I shook the 'net' babies out into the tank. I am debating whether or not to release the molly fry. It does not appear to be growing at all anymore. Two platy fry that managed to survive in the tank are growing fast and are really starting to look like mickey mouse platies. The molly fry is only about 3/8 inch long or less and has been in that net breeder for a couple of months at least. The platies were born and have surpassed the molly in less than half the time. If I release it into the tank, I'm sure it will get eaten, but given the evidence that fry do not thrive in this environment I think and feel I have no choice. I do not have a hospital tank or quarantine tank. I have three tanks and there is a limit to what I can do. Just an observation.

Austin

04-07-2010 09:32 AM

I think a seperate tank is best. But if not, at least raise the fry up until they are big enough to not be eaten, or at least big enough to have a better change of getting away from the adults, in a net breeder, if u dont have another tank.

twocents

04-07-2010 10:20 AM

I think I'm gonna have to set the 10 gallon up somewhere... it may not be in an optimum spot, but at least it would be something better.
I have a 56 gallon column, a 29 gallon, and a 20 gallon. I have a very small 1 room apt and it is cramped to say the least. I have a basement, but that is also crammed to capacity. I think I need to have a garage sale.
Thing is, i don't think the molly is growing anymore.

Thank you...

babydevilsangel

04-07-2010 03:22 PM

I don't like the net breeders either. I noticed that it kept their water looking and smelling worse than it should. The fy that I had in my net breeder slowly died off. I had one left, and put it in a plastic breeder instead, and even that made a difference. He was more active and seemed to grow quite rapidly compared to the stifled sllllooooooowwwwww rate he was growing in the net.

Since then, I've taken the net breeder apart and stowed away, and aquired a 2nd plastic breeder instead!

babydevilsangel

04-07-2010 03:24 PM

Oh! Also with the net, I noticed an accumulation of little water gnats or something! With the net breeder gone... There aren't any more little water bugs. So WEIRD!

fryup

04-07-2010 03:34 PM

iv never had any problems raising my guppy fry in breeder net curently i have 57 in a small tank this is only because there were too many to put in a breeder net :):):0....oh and i totally agree 11% with the post from Austin ....... :):):)

twocents

04-07-2010 04:24 PM

Guppies might be a whole different kettle of fish..
I just made the observation that the molly is no longer growing, and the swordtails in the net breeder are not as far along as its free-swimming brethren.

I have a small 1 gallon plastic tank that was once mr cheekys (rip mr cheeky). I have a small heater, a bubbler, so I'm going to move the molly to that.